October at Oregon House

I've been on a cooking marathon here at Oregon House this month.  I'm on day 11 of an 18 day run of jobs.  First group, 22 people for a week.  Second group, 11 people for a week.  Third group... 27....back to back!  Mercifully, Leong the teacher of this first 2 week run decided to take his group out for Thai food for lunch today.... I am enjoying the little break from the routine shopping.... preparing, presenting, cleaning up.... preparing, presenting, cleaning up....., shopping...preparing, presenting, cleaning up.... breakfast, lunch, dinner; breakfast, lunch, dinner.... nap, sleep, nap, sleep....
Kind of like being a mom of a big family... 'cept I don't have to do laundry for them... get the kids to school .... and I get paid well.... and I can look forward to some nice time off...
Here's to all the hard working Moms (and Dads) ..... who don't get paid (quite the same way) and don't get much time off for their hard work....

All that said, my friend and helper last week Beth and I really enjoyed the beauty of the bounty of this season.  Every meal it seemed we were dazzled by the beauty of the dishes that we were able to prepare with all the amazing abundance that I was able to gather from several local farms on the way down here.
Just a few photos below reflect some of it....
Tempe Salad,  Spiralized Zucchini 'un-pasta' with Pesto, Beautiful Heirloom Tomatoes from Morning Glory Farm outside of Eugene, Fresh Pecan Rolls, Filling for Butternut Squash -n- Black Bean Burritos with Mole Sauce, Pumpkin Pies from a Galeux d'Eysines heirloom pumpkin cooling oceanside! 
Just to name a few.....
Hard to say goodbye to those luscious and beautiful tomatoes until next season....   Still have lots of time to enjoy the wonderful winter squashes,  winter greens and root veggies...
My lunch off reprieve is almost over.... time to go cook dinner! 

 

Another Autumn's Forest Delight!

Here it is a year later (thank my last post!).... guess I haven't been blogging much! Ha! Since I have been letting my lack of willingness to write much stop me from blogging it was suggested to me recently that I simply post some photos. Back at the coast here on a series of catering gigs.... First thing I did upon returning is hit the woods and my favorite mushroom spots... So many this year! The menu for tonight was Savory nut loaf and mashed yukon gold potatoes with Chantrelle gravy and a beautiful fresh green salad with local heirloom tomatoes... corn bread.... Pumkin pies made from Heirloom Galeux d'Eysines Pumpkin and whip cream.... yum!